Marjorie L. Barta-Dowd, 91

September 6, 2013

Marjorie Lillian (Howe) Barta-Dowd was born in Dysart, Ia. to Everett and Alma (Stahr) Howe on February 11, 1922 in her Grandma Stahr's house. She was the second of nine children.

Marjorie went to a country school southeast of Dysart for her elementary grades. She then went to the Dysart High School until the 10th grade and to Elberon High School for her last two years of high school, graduating 2nd in her class in 1940.

Marjorie was baptized in the Baptist Church in Waterloo and was a member of the EUB (Methodist) Church when she lived in Dysart.

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Marjorie married Clifford Barta on Feb. 25th 1942. They met at a dance in Dysart and were married in the EUB (Methodist) Church in Dysart. To this union one son, Jerry, was born. Clifford passed away in 1984 at age 67. She later married Robert Dowd of Marshalltown at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. He passed away after one year of marriage from cancer. Marjorie lived at 1006 Wilson St., Dysart and at 1002 May St., in Marshalltown for most of her life.

Marjorie worked at various jobs including candling eggs in Dysart, doing bookwork for the Dysart Telephone Co., worked for Hawk Built in Vinton in the office and worked her way up to draftsman, worked for John Deere making prints in the drafting dept., worked for Combined Insurance Co. in Waterloo, worked for Little Giant Crane Co. in Ankeny in the drafting dept., worked for Gilliam's jewelry store in Marshalltown and also worked for Max Nelson TV in Marshalltown.

Marjorie enjoyed dancing and listening to old-time music, watching RFD, using her green thumb to raise her flowers, gardening in her younger days and visiting with family and friends. She was a long-time member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Past Presidents, VFW, Eastern Star, and was a Cub Scout Den Mother. Marjorie loved being with her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Marjorie is survived by her son Jerry (Lynne) Barta of New Hampton, her sisters Helen (Ellsworth) Wiley of Irving, Ia., Zelda Andresen of Atkins, Ia. and Linda (Tom) Lindgren of Cedar Rapids and her brothers Stanford Howe of Elberon and Allen (Linda) Howe of Cedar Rapids. She has two grandchildren Jason (Tammy) Barta of Waverly, Ia. and Laura (Adam) Bleakney of Savoy, Illinois. She has six great-grandchildren. Sister-in-laws Estella Harrington of Dysart, and Audrey Howe of Camdenton, Mo. as well as nieces and nephews survive her.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Clifford Barta, second husband Robert Dowd, a sister Thelma (Howe) Hanson, and two brothers Delbert Howe and Gerald (Jerry) Howe and sister-in-law Florence Hackett, and brother-in-laws Ellis Harrington, Calvin Andresen, Galen Gein and Laverne Hackett.